Sterilizing apparatus



K W. KARNOPP STERILIZING APPARATUS Filed July 1, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheetfizz/6W: Earl Wfhrrzopp,

Patented July 24, 1934 UNITED STATES Glaims.

The present invention relates to sterilizing apparatuses and the like.

Among the objects of the present invention is to provide a novelsterilizing apparatus or device adapted to efficiently sterilize bottlesor other similar and like receptacles which may be easily and readilyplaced therein and removed. therefrom.

Another object of the present invention is to 7 provide ;a novelsterilizing apparatusor the like which includes an outer fluid-tightcasing ithin which is provided a receptacle holding means comprising areceptacle supporting means mounted for rotation within the casing, anda receptacle retaining means movable relative thereto.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a novelsterilizingapparatus .or the like which comprises outer casing withinwhich is provided a receptacle holding means including .a receptaclesupporting means mountfor rotation within the casing, and a receptae cleretaining means mounted for rotation relative to and upon saidreceptacle supporting means.

The present invention contemplates the idea of providing a novelsterilizing vapparatus .or the like whichcoinprises an outer casingformed with an opening normally closed by suitable closure means, andWithin which is a receptacle supporting means mounted for rotation,suitable receptaoleretaining means being provided for maintaining thesereceptacles in position and being provided with a normally closedopening mo.vable intocommunicating relation with theopen- .ing :of .thecasing, whereby sterilized-receptacles may be removed from theapparatusand replaced .by other receptacles to be sterilized upon'movementfoi thereceptacle supporting means.

,A further object of the present invention ,is to provide a novelsterilizing apparatus or the like, comprising an outer casing formedwith an opening normally closediby suitableclo'suremeans and in which isprovided receptacle supporting means mounted for rotation, suitablereceptacle U retaining meansbeingrnountedforrotation upon likecomprising an outer casing tor-med with an opening normally closedbysuitable a sure means, in which a receptacle holding means-is mountedfor rotation, this receptacle holding means including a receptaclesupporting means for supporting [a plurality ,of rowsoi receptacles orthe like, and a receptacle retaining means movable relative thereto andhaving an'opening movable into communicating relation with the openingfor the outer casing, whereby fSucces sive rows of sterilizedreceptacles 01" the like may be removed and replaced Joy receptacles orthe like to be sterilized upon movement of the receptacle supportingmeans.

Another object within the purviewc-f the present invention is to providea novel receptacle holding device for sterilizing apparatuses ordevicesincluding an inner receptacle supporting member provided with means forholding a plurality of receptacles, and an outer receptacle retainingmember having a normally closed open.- ing for removal of receptaclesfrom and replacement of receptacles in said receptacle holding means,means being further provided for mount: ing the receptacle supportingmember and receptacle retaining member ior relative movement one withthe other.

Sti afurthe object of th pr s n ven i nis to provide a novel receptacleholding device for sterilizing apparatuses or devices which includesspaced members adapted ,to-be supported upon a shaft or other similarmemberaand which havea plurality of radially disposed armaeachof whichis adapted to support a roller ,membena receptacle supporting means bing .lnovably mounted on these arms for supporting a ,pluralityof17eoeptacles or the like, while a receptacle retaining member is movably,mounted Jon the rollers, whereby the same may be moved relative to thereceptacle supporting member.

A still further object is to provide a novelsteri- Iizing apparatus orthe like comprising an outer casing having an opening normally closedbysuitable closure ,means, in which is provided a receptacle holdingmeans for holding a plurality of receptacles. oixthe like, suchmeansincluding areceptacle supporting means and a receptacle retaini g means-mounted.,f or relativemovement one with the other, thereceptacle,retainingmeansbeing formed with normally ,closed and spacedopenings, one of which openingsis adapted to providemeans wherebysuccessive adjacent receptacles may be discharged, vand another of .saidopeningsproviding means ,yvhereby receptacles to be sterilized maybeplaced in said vreceptacle holding means upon movement of the receptaclesupporting means.

Other objects, features, capabilities and advantages are comprehended bythe invention, as will later appear and as are inherently possessedthereby.

Referring. to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of an embodiment made in accordance withthe present invention, with parts broken away to disclose certainportions thereof more in detail;

Figure 2 is a view in end elevation of the e1n bodiment shown in Figurel of the drawings, with parts broken away to disclose the constructionthereof more in detail; and

Figure 3 is a View in end elevation similar to that shown in Figure 2 ofthe drawings, with parts broken away to disclose another embodiment madein accordance with the present invention.

Referring now more in detail to the drawings, an embodiment selected toillustrate the present invention is disclosed in Figures 1 and 2 ascomprising an outer casing 2 suitably supported as bymeans of standards4 on the pedestals 6 which may be supported upon any suitable flooringll).- In the present embodiment, the casing 2 is substantiallycylindrical in shape and includes and is formed with the end panels 12suitably secured to the cylindrical casing 2, as by means of a pluralityof rivets 14, to provide a fluidtight joint. This cylindrical casing 2is formed with an elongated opening 16 which is normally closed by aclosure member 18 suitably hinged as at 20, whereby the same may bemoved into members 32. Each of these members is formed with a hub 34mounted on the shaft 28, to which is secured a plurality of arms 36which extend radially outwardly therefrom, each of these arms having aflanged rollermember 38 mounted adjacent the end thereof as by means ofa bolt 42',

or the like. Each of these spider members 32 is mounted upon the shaft28 and is adapted to be moved therewith.

concentrically arranged with the shaft 28 and mounted at each end on thearms 36, is a receptacle supporting means 44 comprising a membersubstantially of cylindrical shape, which is formed with end ringportions 46 secured to the arms 36 and between which extends a pluralityof angle members 48 having a plurality of cage members 50 suitablysecured thereto and therealong in spaced relation, each of these cagemembers being adapted to receive a receptacle 52 or the like which maybe either empty, or filled with any suitable material to be sterilized.

In order to maintain these receptacles 52 in positionand in associationwith the holding means 44,a receptacle retaining means 54 is provided,this retaining means comprising a member substantially cylindrical inshape which is mounted at each end upon the rollers 38, this memberbeing held in place as by means of the flanges 56 formed integral withthe rollers 38. It will be clearly apparent that the retaining member 54is movably mounted with respect to the supporting means 26 and maytherefore be moved as desired.

This receptacle retaining member 54 is formed with an elongated opening58 normally closed by the closure member 60 which is hinged at aplurality of points, such as 62, whereby the same may be moved into andout of its closed position, the same being maintained in its closedposition as by means of the latch member 64. As will be clearlyapparent, this opening 58 for the receptacle retaining member may bemoved into communicating relation with the opening 16 for the outercasing.

In operation, a plurality of receptacles or the like are maintained inposition between the receptacle supporting means 44 and the receptacleretaining means 54, and the same may be rotated as by means of the powerdriven shaft 28 until they have been properly sterilized in the presenceof fluid bodies having a high temperature which may be introduced intothe casing 2. When these receptacles or the like have been properlysterilized, the closure member 18 maybe moved into its open position andthe receptacle retaining member 54 moved relative to the receptaclesupporting means until the opening 58 is in communicating relation withthe opening 16. The closure member 60 may then be moved into its openposition and successive rows of receptacles 52 removed and replaced byother receptacles to be sterilized, after which the closure member 68may be locked in its closed position and the closure member 18 movedinto its closed position, and the apparatus operated for sterilizing thenew batch of receptacles or the like. Any suitable means (not disclosed)may be provided for hold ng said retaining member 54 whereby theregistry of the openings 58 and 15 is maintained while successive rowsof receptacles 52 are removed and replaced.

The present invention also contemplates a nov el sterilizing apparatusor the like in which suitable means is provided whereby successiveadjacent receptacles or'successive adjacent rows of receptacles may besimultaneously removed and replaced by other receptacles to besterilized. 120 Such means is disclosed in Figure 3 of the drawings,which comprises a device corresponding in all essentials to the devicedisclosed in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, with the exception'thatthe receptacle retaining means 66 corresponding 25 to the receptacleretaining member 54 comprises a member which is formed with spacedopenings 68 and 70 normally closed as by means of the closure members 72and 74, which are hinged as at 76 and '78 and held 'in position as bymeans of the latch members 80 and 82, respectively. Either of theopenings 68 or 70 corresponds to the opening 58 of the hereinbeforereferred to embodiment, and provides means, whenthe sameis incommunicating relation with the opening 70 of the casing 2, wherebysuccessive rows of receptacles 52 may be removed or discharged fromthe'apparatus and replaced. As in'the previously de scribed embodiment,the openings 68 and '70 are maintained in registry with the opening 16by any suitable means (not disclosed) which holds the retaining member66 against movement relative to the casing 2 during removal andreplacement of successive rows of receptacles.

In the present embodiment, however, both of 1 these openings are to beused and it will be noted that when the receptacle retaining means 66 isin the position as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the opening '70 isso disposed that the receptacles in opposite relation thereto are in adownward- 150 ly inclined position, whereby the same will automaticallymove downwardly through the opening '70 and may be easily grasped by theoperator of the apparatus. Simultaneous with the removal of this row ofreceptacles, another row of cage members 50 is disposed in oppositerelation'to the upper opening 68 whereby, if desired, a plurality ofreceptacles to be sterilized may be. inserted therein simultaneouslywith the removal of the receptacles in opposite relation to the opening70. When arow of receptacles has been removed as described, thereceptacle supporting means 44 may be rotated to a position whereby thenext successive row of receptacles to be removed is in a position fordischarge through the opening '70; This movement causes another emptyrow of cages to be oppositely disposed. in relation to the opening 70,whereby receptacles to be sterilized may be inserted therein. -It is ofcourse understood that the movement of the receptacle supporting meansof either embodiment may be automatic and intermittent, the timeinterval between successive moves thereof being controlled by means,such as a Geneva movement, properly adjusted to coincide with the timenecessary to discharge and load a row of receptacles.

While I have herein described and upon the drawings'shown anillustrative embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood thatthe invention is notv limited thereto but may comprehend otherconstructions, arrangements of parts, details and ieatures withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing having anopening normally closed bya closure member, means mounted for rotationin said casing for supporting a plurality of receptacles, receptacleretaining means mounted for rotation on said supporting means, said lastnamed means being provided with an opening movable into registry withthe opening of said casing for introducing receptacles in andwithdrawing receptacles from'said supporting means, and

a closure member for the opening of said retaining means.

2. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing having anopening normally closed by closure means, means mounted for rotation insaid casing for supporting a plurality of receptacles, and receptacleretaining means mounted for rotation on said supporting means and havingan opening normally closed by closure means and adapted to be moved intoregistry with the opening of said casing, said receptacle supportingmeans being movable relative to said retaining means whereby successiveadjacent receptacles I may be removed and replaced by other receptaclesto be sterilized. 3. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of acasing having an opening, means for closing said opening, means mountedfor rotation in said casing for supporting a plurality of rows ofreceptacles, and receptacle retaining means mounted for rotation andmovable relative to said supporting means, said retaining means havingan opening movable into registry with the opening of said casing,closure means for said opening, said receptacle retaining means beingmovable relative to said retaining means whereby successive adjacentrows of receptacles are moved into registry with said openings forremoval and replacement by other receptacles to be sterilized. o 4. In asterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing having anopeningymeans for closing said opening, means mounted for rotation insaid casing for support ng a plurality of rows of receptacles, andreceptacle retaining means mounted for rotation on said supporting meansand movable relative thereto, said retaining means having an openingmovable into registry with the openin or said casing, closure means forsaid opening, said receptacle retaining means being movable relative tosaid retaining means whereby successive adjacent rows of receptacles aremovedinto registry with said openings for removal and replacement byother receptacles to be sterilized.

- 5. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of acasing having anopening, means for closing said opening, means mounted for rotation insaid casing for supporting a plurality of receptacles, roller meansmounted on said supporting means, and receptacle retaining meansmountedon said roller means and movable relative to said supporting means, saidretaining means having an opening movable into registry with the openingof said casing, said receptacle supporting means being movable relativeto said retaining means whereby successive adjacent receptacles may beremoved and replaced by other receptacles to be sterilized.

6. A receptacle holding device for a sterilizing apparatus, comprisingspaced spider members, a receptacle supporting member mounted thereon, aplurality of roller members mounted on said members, and a receptacleretaining member mounted on said roller members.

'7. A receptacle holding device for a sterilizing apparatus, comprisingspaced spider members, a receptacle supporting member mounted thereon, aplurality of roller members mounted on said members, and a receptacleretaining member mounted on said roller members, said retaining memberhaving an opening, and means for closing said opening.

8. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination or" a casing having anopening, means for closing said opening, a rotatable shaft mounted insaid I20 casing, receptacle holding means mounted on said shaft, said mans including spaced members having a hub mounted on said shaft, saidmembers having a plurality of radially disposed arms, roller membersmounted on each of said arms, 125 a receptacle supporting member mountedon said arms, and a receptacle retaining member mounted for rotation onsaid outer roller members.

9. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing having anopening, means for closing 130 said opening, a rotatable shaft mountedin said casing, receptacle holding means mounted on said shaft, saidmeans including spaced members having a hub mounted on said shaft, saidmembers having a plurality of radially disposed arms, roller membersmounted on each of said arms, a receptacle supporting member mounted onsaid arms, a receptacle retaining member mounted for rotation on saidroller members, said receptacle retaining member having an openingmovable into registry with the opening of said casing, and means forclosing said opening, said receptacle supporting member being movablerelative to said retaining member whereby successive adjacentreceptacles may be removed 1 5 through said openings and replaced byother receptacles to be sterilized.

10. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing having anopening, means for normally closing said opening, receptacle supporting5 means mounted for rotation in said casing, receptacle retaining meansassociated with said supporting means and being provided with aplurality of openings communicating with said first named opening, meansfor normally closing said openings, one of said last named openingsproviding means for the discharge of sterilized receptacles from saidsupporting means and another of said last named openings providing meansfor introducing receptacles to be sterilized into association with saidsupporting means.

11. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing having anopening, means for normally closing said opening, receptacle holdingmeans mounted for rotation in said casing, said means includingreceptacle supporting means, and means movable relative to saidsupporting means for retaining said receptacles in position, saidretaining means having a plurality of openings movable intocommunicating relation with the opening of said casing, means fornormally closing said openings, one of said openings providing means fordischarge of successive adjacent receptacles upon movement of saidsupporting means and another or" said last named openings providingmeans for introducing receptacles to. be sterilized in place of thosedischarged.

12. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing having anopening, means for normally closing said opening, receptacle holdingmeans mounted for rotation in said casing, said means including meansfor supporting a plurality of rows of receptacles, means movablerelative to said supporting means for retaining said receptacles inposition, said retaining means having a pair of spaced openings movableinto communicating relation with the opening of said casing, and meansfor normally closing said openings, one of said openings providing meansfor discharge of successive rows of sterilized'receptacles upon movementof said supporting means, the other of said openings providing means forintroducing successive rows of receptacles to be sterilized in place ofthose discharged.

'cessively placed in association with said support- 13. In a sterilizingapparatus, the combination of a casing, receptacle supporting meansmounted for rotation in said casing, receptacle retaining means forholding said receptacles in association with said supporting means,saidretaining means and casing having aligned passage means 'fordischarge of successive adjacent sterilized receptacles from said casingand aligned passage means whereby receptacles to be sterilized may besucing means to replace the sterilized receptacles discharged.

14. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing, receptaclesupporting means mounted for rotation in said casing, receptacleretaining 1 means mounted for rotation relative to said supporting meansfor holding said receptacles in association with said supporting means,said retaining means and easing having aligned passage means fordischarge of successive adjacent sterilized receptacles from said casingand aligned passage means whereby receptaclesto be sterilized may besuccessively placed in association with said supporting means to replacethe sterilized receptacles discharged, and closure means for saidpassage means. 1

15. In a sterilizing apparatus, the combination of a casing, receptaclesupporting means mounted for rotation in said casing for supporting aplurality of receptacles disposed in rows, receptacle 1 retaining meansmounted for rotation relative to said supporting means for holding saidreceptacles in association with said supporting means, said retainingmeans and casing having aligned passage means for discharge ofsuccessive adjaassociation with said supporting means to re- 11 KARL W.KARNOPP...

